Effects of hints and interpolated activity on solution of an insight problem

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of hints and interpolated activity on Ss’ behavior in trying to solve the hatrack problem. Results indicated that the “ceiling hint” was more effective in facilitating solution than the “clamp hint” but that interpolated activity alone was ineffective. In both experiments, Ss achieving low scores on the Gestalt transformations test responded to a hint more rapidly when it was given during continuous work compared to giving the hint after a period of interpolated activity; in contrast, high scorers responded more rapidly to a hint given after interpolated activity. Discussion centered on the conditions under which positive effects of interpolated activity might be expected. © 1972, The Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.